JPH10293329A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device by which a form such as a color, a pattern and a shape of a thing exhibited in a show window can be easily seized even when it is used for glass or the like of the show window. SOLUTION: A rotary particle layer T has an opaque boundary surface 11, and particle carriers rotatably carrying polarized particles 2 having transparent members 4 on its both ends, are arranged in large numbers along a surface of the rotary particle layer T. An electric field impressing device 7 drives the polarized particles 2 so that the boundary surface 11 turns in the almost vertical direction to the rotary particle layer T, and an electric field impressing device 5 drives the polarized particles 2 so that the boundary surface 11 turns in the almost parallel direction to the rotary particle layer T.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device having a display function using a particle carrier rotatably supporting particles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a particle rotating type display device, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-188489, process
ings of the SID, Vol. 23, 4
P. 249 (1982) and processings
of the SID, Vol. 18, p. 289
(1977), so-called TBD (Twisting Ball) for forming an image by rotating or stopping a large number of spherical particles arranged on an image display surface.
(Display) system is employed.

In this method, two hemispherical particles made of different materials are joined to each other, and a spherical particle having a diameter of about 50 μm is immersed in an insulating solution while one of the hemispheres is colored. And a dipole moment is generated in the pole direction of the spherical particles, and the direction of the dipole moment is controlled by an electric field or the like.

That is, an electric field is applied to a large number of spherical particles (hereinafter referred to as “polarized particles”) arranged on an image display surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the image display surface using an electric field application device. To form an image.

Since the TBD system employs a light-receiving system, unlike a display device such as a CRT, it does not flicker and give a burden to the eyes. Further, since low-voltage driving is possible, power consumption is small. Further, the formed image is maintained as it is even if the electric field applied by the electric field applying device is cut off because of the memory effect.

In the display device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-21405, a hemispherical surface of transparent polarized particles is colored, and an electric field is applied in a direction substantially perpendicular to and substantially parallel to the image display surface. Was applied to form an image.

[0007]

However, in the particle rotating type display device using the above-described polarized particles and the electric field applying device, the polarized particles are opaque or the hemisphere of the polarized particles is colored. Because
There is a problem that light cannot be transmitted through the image display surface, and a completely clear display device cannot be manufactured.

Therefore, when the present display device is used as a glass for a shop window, there is a problem that it is not possible to grasp the form such as the color, the pattern and the shape of the objects displayed on the shop window.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem. Even when the present invention is used for a glass of a show window, the form, such as a color, a pattern, and a shape of an object displayed on the show window is changed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device that can be easily grasped.

[0010]

In order to achieve this object, a display device according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a particle having an opaque boundary surface and a transparent region on both sides thereof, and a particle having the same. A rotatably supported particle carrier, and an image display surface on which a number of the particle carriers are arranged along the surface,
First driving means for driving the particles so that the boundary surface is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the image display surface; and driving the particles so that the boundary surface is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the image display surface. And a second driving means.

In the display device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image display surface includes a particle carrier having an opaque boundary surface and rotatably supporting particles having transparent regions on both sides thereof. , And many are arranged along the surface. Then, the first driving means drives the particles so that the boundary surface is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the image display surface, so that the shape, such as color, pattern and shape, of the object on the other side with respect to the image display surface And the second driving means drives the particles so that the boundary surface is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the image display surface. Can be easily hidden.

Further, the display device according to the second aspect is characterized in that the boundary surface is a surface passing through the center of the particle.

In the display device according to claim 2 having the above configuration, since the boundary surface passes through the central part of the particle, when the boundary surface is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the image display surface, the display surface is displayed. In addition to being able to easily grasp the color, pattern, shape, etc. of the objects displayed in the window, especially when the boundary surface is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction,
Objects displayed inside the shop window can be securely hidden.

[0014] The display device according to a third aspect is characterized in that the boundary surface is a surface passing through a portion deviated from the center of the particle.

In the display device according to claim 3, having the above configuration, since the boundary surface passes through a portion deviated from the center of the particle, the boundary surface faces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the image display surface. Can easily grasp the form such as the color, pattern and shape of the objects displayed in the shop window, and especially when the boundary surface is oriented substantially horizontally, It is possible to see a part of the form of the exhibited object and easily grasp the form of the entire object.

Further, the display device according to the fourth aspect is characterized in that the particles are polarized particles electrically polarized on the boundary surface.

In the display device having the above-mentioned structure, since the particles are electrically polarized with the boundary as a boundary, the direction of the particles can be adjusted by using an external electric field applying device. It can be easily changed by applying.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining polarized particles used in the display device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a polarized particle 2 as a particle has an opaque boundary surface 11 and a transparent member 4 having a diameter of about 50 μm as a transparent region on both sides of the boundary surface 11, and is formed in a spherical shape.

The method for producing the polarized particles 2 is as follows.
For example, a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-282589 can be used. That is, it is possible to use a method of coloring the surfaces of two types of transparent members 4 having different charging properties, bonding them together to form a plate or a band, and then pulverizing them into a desired size.

Next, a method of manufacturing the panel 8A including the polarized particles 2 will be described.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view for explaining polarized particles coated with wax and a transparent electrode in the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, first, the periphery of the polarized particles 2 is coated with a resin soluble in an organic solvent such as a wax 6. This coating is made of molten wax 6
This is performed by ejecting and dropping each particle of the mixture of the mixture of the particles and the polarized particles 2 from the nozzle by the pressure of the nitrogen gas.
The thickness of the layer to be coated is adjusted to 3 to 15 micrometers depending on the temperature of the nozzle and the pressure at which nitrogen gas is ejected. After the coating with the wax 6 is completed, the coated polarized particles 2 are precipitated in water together with the linearly arranged transparent electrodes 3 such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide).

Then, an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is added to the polarized particles 2 and the transparent electrode 3 precipitated in water and dried, and the transparent PVA containing the polarized particles 2 as shown in FIG. Panel 8A is obtained.

Next, when the panel 8A is immersed in an organic solvent, only the wax 6 is dissolved and washed, and the insulating solvent 10 is injected into it, and the transparent liquid leakage prevention seal 12 is attached. By doing so, the gap around the polarized particles 2 is filled with the insulating solvent 10, the polarized particles 2 can be rotated by application of an electric field or the like, and the particle carrier 13 is formed. Then, a panel 8B made of transparent PVA as shown in FIG. 3 is completed.

Here, the polarized particles 2 have different charging properties.
In the insulating solvent 10, the surface charge amount of each transparent region is different according to the principle of the electric double layer. Therefore, when an electric field is applied to the polarized particles 2, the polarized particles 2 A dipole moment is generated throughout. Therefore, the polarized particle 2 rotates by this dipole moment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining control for changing the direction of the boundary surface 11 of the polarized particles in the present embodiment. In this description, it is assumed that one hemisphere X sandwiching the boundary surface 11 is polarized to a negative charge, and the other hemisphere Y is polarized to a positive charge. In FIG. 4, panel 8
B is sandwiched between the transparent electrode A and the electrode B, and an electric field E is applied by using the electric field applying device 5 as the second driving means with the electrode B as the positive electrode and the electrode A as the negative electrode. The semispherical surface Y faces a certain electrode B side (upper side) and the negative electrode A side (lower side). Therefore, the boundary surface 11 becomes horizontal, and light is reflected by the panel 8B. here,
Even if the application of the electric field is canceled, the polarized particles 2 remain
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 42683, polarized particles 2
And the wall surrounding the insulating solvent 10 and does not rotate freely. That is, even if the application of the electric field is canceled, the polarized particles 2 do not rotate and have a kind of memory effect.

Next, when an electric field is applied by applying an electric field to the left transparent electrode 3 of the polarized particles 2 and the right transparent electrode 3 to ground by the electric field application device 7 as the first driving means, the polarized particles 2 face upward. The hemisphere X faces the left side, which is the positive electrode, and the hemisphere Y, which has turned downward, faces the right. Therefore, the boundary surface 11
Is vertical, and the light is transparent to the panel 8B. And, as described above, even if the application of the electric field is released,
The orientation of the polarized particles 2 is maintained.

As described above, in the polarized particle layer T formed as an image display surface on the panel 8B, light transmission is secured by an electric field in a direction horizontal to the image display surface, and An electric field in a direction perpendicular to the direction ensures light blocking. Therefore, by controlling the rotation of the boundary surface 11, an arbitrary image can be formed and can be visualized.

Next, a method for applying an electric field to the polarized particles 2 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing wirings for driving polarized particles in the present embodiment. In FIG.
The application of the electric field by the electric field applying device 5 is performed by grounding the entirety of the transparent electrode 14 on the surface V side in a state where the transparent electrodes 14 are wired in a matrix on one surface U and the other surface V of the panel 8B. This is performed by selectively applying a potential of about ± 100 V to the transparent electrode 14.

The application of the electric field by the electric field applying device 7 is performed by grounding the transparent electrodes 3 incorporated in the panel 8B every other or every several electrodes, and applying the ground to the transparent electrodes 3 other than the grounded transparent electrodes 3. This is performed by selectively applying a potential of about ± 100 V. In this case, for example, the surface U
And the potential of the surface V is maintained at a high potential (for example, 100 V) by a Zener diode or the like, and the matrix electrode 1
4 can also be performed by applying 0V or 200V. In this case, only one power supply is needed,
Very economical.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, only the wiring of the electrode 3 in the panel 8B is performed without wiring the transparent electrode 14, and the electric field applying device 16 is An arbitrary image may be formed by moving on the rotating particle layer 20.

Further, as shown in FIG.
May pass through a portion of the particle that is off center. In this case, even when an electric field is applied in a direction perpendicular to the image display surface and the boundary surface 11 of the polarized particles 18 is oriented in the horizontal direction, light is partially transmitted. , The transparency can always be maintained.

In this embodiment, the direction of the polarized particles 2 is changed by applying an electric field. However, the direction may be changed by applying a magnetic field.

[0035]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the display device described in the above, the image display surface has an opaque boundary surface, and a number of particle carriers rotatably supporting particles having a transparent region on both sides thereof are arranged along the surface, The first driving means drives the particles so that the boundary faces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the image display surface, and the second driving means drives the particles so that the boundary faces in a direction substantially parallel to the image display surface. Therefore, even when the display device of the present invention is used for glass or the like of a shop window, if the boundary surface is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the image display surface, the color of the object displayed in the shop window is , Patterns and shapes can be easily grasped, and when the boundary surface is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the image display surface, objects displayed in the shop window can be easily hidden.

According to the display device of the second aspect, since the boundary surface passes through the center of the particle,
If the boundary faces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the image display surface,
The form, such as color, pattern and shape, of the objects displayed in the shop window can be easily grasped, and especially when the boundary surface is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction, the objects displayed in the shop window are displayed. Things can be securely hidden.

According to the display device of the third aspect, since the boundary surface passes through a portion deviated from the center of the particle, the boundary surface faces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the image display surface. Can easily grasp the form such as the color, pattern and shape of the objects displayed in the shop window, and especially when the boundary surface is oriented substantially horizontally, It is possible to see a part of the form of the exhibited object and easily grasp the form of the entire object.

Further, according to the display device of the fourth aspect, since the particles are electrically polarized with the boundary surface as a boundary, the direction of the particles can be adjusted by using an external electric field applying device. It can be easily changed by applying.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating polarized particles used in a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating polarized particles coated with wax and a transparent electrode according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a polyvinyl alcohol panel including polarized particles filled with an insulating solvent in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating control for changing the direction of a boundary surface between polarized particles according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing wiring for driving polarized particles in the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an electric field application device that drives polarized particles according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a case where a boundary surface of a polarized particle passes through a portion deviated from a central portion of the particle in another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Polarized particle 4 Transparent member 5 Electric field applying device 7 Electric field applying device 11 Boundary surface 13 Particle carrier T Polarized particle layer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A particle having an opaque boundary surface and a transparent region on both sides thereof, a particle carrier rotatably supporting the particle, and an image display surface on which a large number of the particle carrier are arranged along the surface. First driving means for driving the particles so that the boundary surface is oriented substantially perpendicular to the image display surface; and the particles are arranged such that the boundary surface is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the image display surface. And a second driving means for driving the display device. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the boundary surface is a surface passing through a center of the particle. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the boundary surface is a surface passing through a portion deviated from a central portion of the particle. 4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the particles are polarized particles electrically polarized with the boundary surface as a boundary.